Israelson and Stevens Share 36-hole Lead at Minnesota Golf Champions

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – Helped by six birdies and a bogey on his scorecard Saturday, former North Dakota State University golfer Andrew Israelson posted a 5-under 68 to earn a share of the lead with Nate Stevens following two rounds of play at the 46^th Minnesota Golf Champions at Golden Valley Country Club.
 
When the final round gets underway Sunday, Israelson and Stevens will carry a slim lead over professional Brady Hanson, who fired a tournament-low 66 Saturday, to finish 36 holes of competition one shot off the lead.
 
“My game has just gotten a lot better and it’s in a good spot right now. I changed a few things in my swing to get a little more consistent and it’s really shown in my ball-striking,” said Israelson, who is looking for his first win in the state since the 2019 Pine to Palm at Detroit Country Club. "I’ve tuned up a few things in my short game and everything has compounded and, overall, gotten a little bit better.”
 
Israelson, who posted a 7-under 65 on the final day of the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship in July to finish two shots back of champion Frankie Capan, got started during his second round Saturday with a birdie on the opening hole, one of three birdies on the par-5’s for the round, to quickly jump into red figures.
 
He would turn in 5-under for the championship following birdies at the fourth and sixth holes before he got up-and-down at the 10^th for birdie and curled in a 25-footer at 11 to begin his inward nine, sending him into sole possession of the lead at 7-under.
 
Israelson took a step back with a bogey at the par-4 12^th, but bounced back by carding one final birdie at the 15^th, rolling in a 15-footer to finish the first two rounds tied for the lead with Stevens at 7-under.
 
“Fortunately for me, even though it’s been pretty cold, I’ve still got some pop and some distance out here, which is good to have on the six par-5’s,” Israelson said Saturday.
 
Stevens, who is coming off a win at the AJGA UHY Kansas City Junior Championship in Richmond, Mo., two weeks ago, opened the championship Friday with a 3-under 70 and would play a rocky front nine, turning at 1-under before finding his rhythm on the back nine Saturday.
 
A birdie at the par-5 10^th put Stevens to 5-under for the tournament, but back-to-back birdies at the 14^th and 15^th holes moved the Northfield High School junior near the top of the leaderboard. Stevens gave back a stroke with a bogey at the 16^th, but rallied to make birdie on the ensuing hole, the 185-yard, par-3 16^th and would card a 4-under 69 to earn a share of the lead with 18 holes to play.
 
After beginning the championship with a round of 1-over 74 Friday, Hanson caught fire during the second round Saturday, playing his first nine holes in 6-under par, including an eagle on the opening hole, to turn in 5-under for the championship.
 
Getting up-and-down from the front edge for birdie at the 10^th put Hanson at 6-under and he would sink a 12-footer for birdie at the 11^th for his sixth birdie in a seven-hole span to move into a share of the lead at 7-under.
 
Stumbling later in the round, Hanson carded bogeys at the 14^th and 16^th to fall back to 5-under, but would sink a slippery 3-footer from above the 18^th hole to post a 7-under 66 to move into third place, one shot off the lead.
 
“It was a fun day on the course,” Hanson said following his tournament-low 66 Saturday. “I was hitting my driver and trying to make as many birdies as possible. With the six par-5’s, the scores are out there, you just have to take advantage of opportunities.
 
“I was hitting the ball really well and making putts. I left a few out there, which is hard to say when you have a good day like that. The key has been the driver—I’m hitting it far and hitting it straight, which has given me a lot of scoring chances.”
 
Minnesota State Open champion and University of Minnesota golfer Angus Flanagan posted a 3-under 70 Saturday and will begin the final round two shots off the lead in a tie for fourth with defending champion Trent Peterson at 5-under.
 
The final round of the 46^th Minnesota Golf Association is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Golden Valley Country Club.
 
 
 
THE 46^TH MINNESOTA GOLF CHAMPIONS
GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
GOLDEN VALLEY, MINN.
7,005 YARDS, PAR 73
 
 
SATURDAY’S SECOND ROUND RESULTS
T1. Nate Stevens, Northfield GC, 70-69—139
T1. Andrew Israelson, Vintage GC, 71-68—139
3. Brady Hanson (p), 2^nd Swing, 74-66—140  
T4. Angus Flanagan, University GC, 71-70—141  
T4. Trent Peterson, Fountain Valley GC, 70-71—141
6. Thomas Campbell (p), 2^nd Swing, 73-69—142
T7. Ryan Helminen (p), Ridgeway CC, 74-69—143
T7. Sam Matthew (p), North Oaks GC, 74-69—143  
T9. Eric Rolland (p), Augsburg College, 75-69—144  
T9. Brent Snyder (p), Troy Burne GC, 73-71—144
 
 
For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga20/event/mnpga2039/contest/5/leaderboard.htm